With the crisis in the Ukraine deepening, SportAccord will no longer be taking place in 2022 in Russia as planned.
A statement sent to Host City, signed by SportAccord and GAISF President Ivo Ferriani, read: "The SportAccord Executive Committee met today and unanimously decided to cancel the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit, 15-20 May 2022 in Ekaterinburg, Russia".
The statement reached Host City shortly after the IOC Executive Board urged all International Sports Federations to relocate or cancel their sports events currently planned in Russia or Belarus.
"They should take the breach of the Olympic Truce by the Russian and Belarussian governments into account and give the safety and security of the athletes absolute priority. The IOC itself has no events planned in Russia or Belarus," the IOC statement said.
"In addition, the IOC EB urges that no Russian or Belarussian national flag be displayed and no Russian or Belarussian anthem be played in international sports events which are not already part of the respective World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) sanctions for Russia.
"At the same time, the IOC EB expresses its full support to the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) for the upcoming Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022.
"The IOC EB expresses its deep concerns about the safety of the members of the Olympic Community in Ukraine and stands in full solidarity. It notes that the special IOC task force is in contact with the Olympic Community in the country to coordinate humanitarian assistance where possible.
"The IOC EB asks the task force to continue to closely monitor the situation and to keep the IOC EB informed and updated, also with regard to potential amendments of today’s resolution."
The Centre for Sport and Human Rights also contacted Host City with a statement, in which it said, "We welcome decisions to relocate events from Russia at this time, believe that discussions on sporting sanctions are appropriate, and salute the bravery of athletes from both Russia and Ukraine in taking a stand for peace and human rights."
